McDonald’s celebrates owner Gina Wolfe, International Women’s Day

Thursday

The McDonald’s corporation celebrated International Women’s Day in 100 women-owned restaurants Thursday, including one operated by Columbia’s Gina and Tony Wolfe on Trotwood Avenue.

The Wolfes have been owners since 1991 and have become part of a women’s movement that’s taken over the fast-food restaurant industry. Nearly 75 percent of the Wolfes’ restaurant workers are women, Gina Wolfe said. More than 90 percent of their managers are women, she added.

“Women are multitaskers,” Gina, 53, said Thursday. “I know that from being a mother. As a woman, we are very encouraging. We are able to lift each other up, and I think we’re the biggest cheerleader for everyone, men and women.

“I think God created us to fulfill that role as an encourager. We’re mamas to a lot of people who work here. We’ll pray with you. We’ll cry with you. We’ll laugh with you.”

Gina Wolfe’s father and mother, Tony and Carol Bastone, opened the Trotwood location in 1974. Tony died in Aug. 27 2002, and Carol passed away last year, March 31.

“My father had this one restaurant on Trotwood forever,” Gina said. “In 1988, I opened and managed the location on Bear Creek Pike. My father moved here from Dover, Del., after working as a chemical engineer. He was a great encourager and told me I could be anything I wanted to be. He wanted me to reach for my goals.

“I started working when I was 12 years old. I worked my way up. I went to Hamburger University. where McDonald’s teaches you everything. When Tony and I got married, we ran the restaurants together and raised a family that included six kids.”

Gina and Tony trained to become operators in 1991 and have grown their business footprint to six locations in three cities, Columbia, Spring Hill and Mt. Pleasant. They’ve been assisted by developing women in management and guided by their faith in God, they said.

“We employ more than 400 people, and enjoy being part of their lives,” Gina said. “It’s a blessing for us to be involved in the community and give back.”

Five of their six children were girls, so the Wolfes know how to deal with young women. Their kids include Caroline, 27; Anthony, 26; Catherine, 23; Anna Grace, 21; Abigail, 20; and Olivia, 16.

“My dad gave me the model of how to be successful, and God blessed me to marry someone who shared the same values. It’s been a great partnership.”

The Wolfes have been married for 28 years and operators for 27 years. They attend Maury Hills Church.

“The most important thing is our people, our employees,” Gina said. “We have great products, but it’s all about people. It’s about people who are behind the counter and people who are your loyal customers and friends in this community.”

Nationally, 60 percent of managers for McDonald’s are women. Gina said her local company exceeds the national number because of loyalty and longevity.

“We try celebrate the accomplishments of women not just on International Women’s Day, but every day,” Gina said. “We’re proud of the women who work for us and and what we can do together.”

Supervisor Karen Hunt, 42, started working for the Wolfes when she was 15. The 1993 Columbia Central High School graduate remembers interviewing with Tony for the job, showing up 30 minutes late.

“I had to walk to my interview at that time because I did not have a ride. My father was working,” Hunt said. “Tony kind of looked at me, then looked at his watch. He was about to leave. But he interviewed with me, and I started working weekends only because I was only 15. I was so scared my first day of work. There were so many buttons to push.

“I have stayed here for 27 years because the operators, Gina and Tony, have been good to us. It seems like this is where I belong.”

Hunt credited a retired general manager, Joyce Cockrell, and the Wolfes for developing her.

“She took me under her wing, along with Gina and Tony,” Hunt said of Cockrell. “And she expected performance.

“The keys were taking care of the quality of the food and restaurant,” she added. “As a manager, you’re a teacher, a mom, a baby sitter and counselor for the workers. There’s a lot of roles. You’re their enemy and brother and sister sometimes.”

General Manager Amber McCain, 37, started as a crew member at 25. She was living in Mt. Pleasant when she interviewed, and a short time later, she became a single mother.

“I started the job to help out with bills at home,” McCain said. “I worked my way up into management by attending classes and learning on the job. I learned to be consistent and to work hard.

“Work ethic and showing up to work on time is very important at a young age,” she added. “It’s been a good experience for me as a women in management and as a mother. They have worked with me any issues that have arisen through the years.”

Tony praised his wife for being a driving force in the community with her generosity, contributions and service to nonprofit groups. Gina supports Columbia Academy athletics also serves on a regional board for McDonald’s.

“Gina’s father always taught her independence,” Tony said. “He constantly said not to count on your other half to take care of you. You have to have independence. Gina instills that in our daughters.

“But the biggest reason Gina is successful is her leadership,” he added. “If you look back at Gina’s life, she was president of student government at Columbia State and president of many, many local boards. It goes back to her leadership, being confident in making decisions and having confidence in herself. She is a unique person.”

Gina’s unique role in the community stems from her success with McDonald’s and in life. By being profitable and hiring 400 employees, the Wolfe have been able to give back.

“It’s part of our faith. God has blessed us,” Gina said. “So we share our blessings. It’s important for us to contribute to our community. If you are going to live in a community, you have to support your community.”

By hiring women, the Wolfes have empowered them, whether they stay with McDonald’s or go into other professions.

“The Wolfes have such a warm touch with their people,” McDonald’s Brand Reputation Manager Wilma Griffith said. “You can see the loyalty they have in their restaurant. That makes a difference at the end of the day, whether times are good or whether they’re going through peaks and valleys. They can rely on their staff and talented women who work here.”

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James Bennett is editor of The Daily Herald. His column is based on reporting, old-school storytelling and original commentary on whatever catches his fancy or yours. He was a 2017 Tennessee Press Association first-place award winner for editorial writing and public service. Contact him at jbennett@c-dh.net.

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